Originally Posted by Gman.357

Serial killers are usually very difficult to catch at first. Their murders are carefully considered, and often well planned out long before they do it. Sometimes they fantasize about the kill for years before they ever happen upon an opportunity to commit the deed. Most start off small, by killing or torturing animals, etc., and work their way up to humans.

As for taking risks, I don't think many of them do in the beginning. As they become more successful, they tend to become more sloppy, but they are usually VERY successful before they are suspected, much less caught. Don't forget, most serial killers are driven by sado-sexual urges beyond their control, and most live in a fantasy world where they are god-like compared to their victims. These guys aren't just killers, they're considered predators with a compulsion to kill in a particular way that satisfies their twisted sexual fantasies. So if the serial killer doesn't get "pleasure" from shooting someone, he's not going to use a gun to kill.

There's plenty of them who use multiple methods of killing though, because the process of killing isn't the part they enjoy. It's what happens before or after the kill that satisfies them (like Jeff Dahmer and some others).